Coors leads community prayer lunch

After years of work, John Coors had a decision to make. In 1992 he decided to give up his identity.

He left behind his family's business, Coors Brewery, to start a new business that would eventually stretch into a ministry.

"That was my life," he said. "That was what I had grown to do ... It was not easy for us to experience losing our identity."

Coors spoke before an audience of almost 500 at the Community Prayer Luncheon on Thursday afternoon. The luncheon was a part of the annual Lubbock Business Expo, sponsored by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.

The event provided community business leaders the opportunity to join in prayer, said Eddie McBride, chamber president.

"What a great opportunity in the middle of our Expo to celebrate - with the community - prayer," McBride said.

Led by local pastors and businessmen, those who attended prayed in thanksgiving for their success and in hope of the future.

Coors served as the event's keynote speaker. McBride said he was selected based on his business experience and strong faith. McBride said he hoped Coors' speech would inspire and uplift Lubbock business leaders.

Coors told the audience about his upbringing as a devout Christian and how that influenced the business decisions he made later in life.

After years of working for the family business, Coors Brewery, Coors left the business to start Coors Tech, Inc. The company produces metal and plastic parts used in a variety of products from bulletproof vests worn by the soldiers to ceramic cups and dishes used by scientists.

Coors integrated his faith and his business procedures by adding a chaplain program as a resource for the 25,000 employees. When the business profits and staff was cut in half as a result of the economic recession, the employees requested the chaplain program remain intact.

Coors and his wife, Sharna, have 10 children - four biological and six adopted, one of whom is from Africa. He received inspiration from another business venture while on trip to Kenya.

"I was looking down where I knew thousands of people lived and I didn't see a single light," Coors told the crowd. So he started Circle of Light, a company that provides affordable energy to people in developing nations so they can have cooking and lighting systems. The lights allow children to work on their homework after dark, while the cooking systems keep families healthier and safer because they no longer have to rely on fires, Coors said.

Currently, Circle of Light works in Kenya and Mozambique, but Coors said he hopes it continues growing.

"My dream would be to impact 100 million people over the next 20 years," he said.

Many business and church leaders said they found Coors' journey inspirational.

"I'm sure something had to touch everyone," said Steve Doles, founder of Pray Lubbock, a coalition of pastors.

Matt Wolfington, pastor at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, said he found not only Coors' speech, but the entire event to be inspiring. He said the prayer luncheon demonstrated the people of Lubbock's faith.

"That's a testimony to our faith and a testimony to our city," Wolfington said. "I think that speaks volumes for Lubbock and citizens involved here."

To comment on this story:

kellie.bramlet@lubbockonline.com l 766-8754

james.ricketts@lubbockonline.com l 766-8706

FAITH/Man gave up role in family's famous beer-brewing business for chance to minister

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